Gordon Staples & The String Thing - Mean Johnny Barrows (1976)

1. Strung Out
2. Toonie
3 From A Heart That's True To Only One
4. Hustle
5. Love Theme
6. If Your Love Were Mine
7. Get Down
8. Sound of Zodiac
9. It's Got To Be Alright
10. Strung Out (Reprise 1)
11. I'm Back
12. Strung Out (Reprise 2)
13. Who Knows Better
14. Dialog 2 & 3

Blaxploitaton.com
Fred Williamson certainly managed to pick some superb music for his films. Here, parts of an old Motown album (Strung Out by Gordon Staples) are reused to great effect in Mean Johnny Barrows, a Williamson classic. The main theme is the 'Strung Out' track on this 45, while the flip side is used as incidental music in several places in the film. The original Strung Out LP also includes another track from the movie (a ballad), but it's not the same mix that appears in the film, so we've highlighted the 45 instead. The music is excellent: a head-nodding midtempo funky groover with nice atmospheric choppy wah, tight drums and a killer funky strings line - quite a rarity, too.

Thanks Soulfingahttp://soulfingas-crate.blogspot.com/

Garfeel Ruff - The Hitter (1979)

1. The Hitter
2. Distant
3. Don't Count On Me
4. Golden Time Of Day
5. Bring On The Love
6. Jump Street
7. Street Hustlin'
8. You're In Good Hands
9. I Wish You Well
10. Fortune

Blaxploitation.com
Ron 'Superfly' O'Neal starred in this late obscure, depressing blaxploitation film from 1979 about a failed bare knuckle fighter and hustler. The music has a very well-produced, clean sound and features tracks from Raul Da Souza alongside the original film music from Garfeel Ruff. The originals are good late 70's funk, generally slow tempo with deep bass and a strong horn section. This album can be found fairly easily, invariably still sealed and quite cheap, so obtain a copy if you can.

Provided by Tony

Link to movie review
Christopher Leitch - The Hitter (1979)

Taj Mahal - Brothers (1977)

1. Love Theme in the Key of D
2. Funky Butt
3. Brother's Doin' Time
4. Night Rider
5. Free the Brothers
6. Sentidos Dulce (Sweet Feelings)
7. The Funeral March
8. Malcolm's Song
9. David and Angela

Not My Review
Taj produced, wrote and arranged this soundtrack from the late 70's film. It has a strong Caribbean feel to the percussion and Taj's voice is strong and fluid as ever. The synopsis from the cover is as follows: "He was nobody, a black man in a white man's prison. She was somebody; a notorious, beautiful radical, black professor. Their love story caused a national convulsion. This film is that story. And it happened." I've never seen the flick myself, but I love the record. Nice simple cover graphics are well chosen.

Link to movie review
Arthur Barron - Brothers (1977)

Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee - Book Of Numbers (1972)

1. Walk With The Lord (Vocal by Pat Kessee)
2. Riding To Bookers
3. Blue's Last Walk
4. Eldorado
5. Stompin' At Booker's
6. Poor Little June Bug
7. I'm So Glad (Vocal by Barbara Massey)
8. Cracker Cops
9. Blueboy's Holler
10. Moog montage: the clan, no way out, chase down

Blaxploitation.com
A low-key soundtrack to a film starring Philip Michael Thomas, later of Miami Vice. The album features a country and western motif and much harmonica. Take the time to listen more closely and you'll discover a great smooth funky soul vocal track, "I'm So Glad", and an interesting moog and guitar instrumental.